Does anything really need to be said about why a new book by Toni Morrison is one to have on your radar? Probably not.

Rioters who’ve picked this up have been talking highly of it. It’s a book about the way that childhood trauma can impact one’s adulthood, for better or for worse. It’s also short, weighing in at just under 200 pages.

Imagine going from being an average girl to being a girl who falls in love with the future King of Britain who is then tossed into a world of wealth, fancy dinners, and luxury trips. That kind of spotlight shines hot, of course, and when the tabloids are out for a good story, sometimes a girl learns that it’s not easy being a potential future royal.

If you’re a fan of fantasy, action, history, romance and adventure, then you’ll want to pick up this debut novel.

The Martial Empire is not an easy place to live. When Laia’s brother gets arrested for treason against the government, she goes undercover in exchange for a promise of help from rebel Scholars. But when Laia meets Elias — a soldier giving serious consideration to deserting his duties — their lives and futures together and within the Empire are changed.

Bonus: this YA fantasy is a stand-alone title. No waiting for book number two!

I mentioned this one back in November as my favorite read of the month and I’ve reread it since and still think it’s a knock-out YA title.

Romy Grey’s been ostracized by her community for daring to say that the town’s golden boy raped her at a party. Her life’s been hell in the year since that happened.

When she wakes up along a road with her clothes disheveled and no recollection of what happened the night before, we’re tossed back into a series of painful memories that lead up to the night before, including the disappearance of Penny, Romy’s former best friend. What happened to Penny? And what role did Romy have in it?

This is a brutal book about rape culture and victimization that should be required YA reading.